“Quite the performance. A fine piece of acting.”

“But… it’s excessive.”

At those words, Ain Del’s voice abruptly cut off, as though thrown into confusion by the prince’s firm declaration.A heavy silence fell over the room. His pupils trembled faintly.

Seeing both him and Sophia, who stood just behind him,caused the corners of the prince’s lips to lift naturally.

Now, this was starting to get interesting.

“Your words are excessive.”

“If Your Highness finds them excessive…”

“It almost sounds like I’m about to kill your daughter. I mean… I could. If that’s what you want…”

Drawing out the words deliberately, he let madness seep into his eyes.                              With one hand, he idly fidgeted with the steak knife that lay before him, and with the other, 

he slowly swirled the wine in his glass, staring at the two of them, intently. Unblinking.

Then, ever so slightly, he gave the knife-wielding hand a twitch.

The soft clatter of metal echoed through the otherwise still reception dining room, instantly heightening the tension in the air.

He raised his gaze.

Once toward the empty space above them, once toward the people before him, and once toward the knife.

Slowly. Deliberately.Then, drawing his lips upward in a sharp, exaggerated grin.

He crafted an atmosphere that suggested he might very well kill someone right there.

Sweat beaded thickly at Ain Del’s temple as he looked into those eyes.

Sophia had shut her eyes completely, her fragile shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Now this,this was what acting truly looked like.

He took the knife and scraped it along the rim of his wine glass.

“Screeeech”

“Can you take responsibility,” he asked, voice low and steady, “for what you just said?”

“I… I apologize.”Ain Del replied with a voice that quivered like a leaf.

The atmosphere was firmly in his grip.

He’d tightened the rope enough. It was time to loosen it.

“Well thought. After all, Ain Del Royce… I came to see the head of the Royce family. But due to the nature of this visit, it seems a few misunderstandings arose between us.”

“No, Your Highness. It is an honor simply to be visited by you.”

“Yes. Consider it an honor. That’s what it should be.”

As Ain Del nodded and processed this unexpected agreement, his expression briefly went blank.

“I hear you’re pushing a new business lately. Something involving the Mage Tower, no?”  “That is correct. Many are talking. Would Your Highness consider investing?”                    “Not a bad idea.”                                                                                                                      “In that case, allow me to present the project in detail! Quickly, bring the proposal!”

The mere mention of investment caused Ain Del’s face to brighten dramatically.

So he was the type who’d happily accept investment from a mad prince.But the prince had no interest in mere investments.

Yes, this upcoming business venture would indeed prove highly profitable.He already knew this. In fact, he was planning to buy stock himself, but he hadn’t bothered to get into a staged car accident, draw blood, and engage in a psychological war just to earn a few coins.

What he truly desired was…

“There’s no need for a proposal. You’re the one leading the venture. I already know you’re sweeping up the capital’s wealth.”

“But Your Highness, business is about vision. One must look ahead.”

“Vision. I like that. Yes, very good. And on that note…”

Leaning forward toward the man who had now drawn in close, he whispered in a quiet, almost intimate voice.

“I’m interested in the vision of your family.”

“Our family…?”

“These days, aren’t the eunuchs becoming unusually ambitious? Spreading their stench everywhere.”

“…”

“That stench… I’ll cover it in blood.”

Ain Del inhaled sharply, his breath grew ragged, his pupils quivered, he hesitated,clearly pondering something, before he finally asked, 

“Is there… something Your Highness desires?”

“I told you. I see the vision of your house.”

“If you mean… by vision…?”

“Sophia.”

He called out softly, addressing the golden bird who, until now, had been deliberately ignored. Sophia’s pale yellow eyes lifted and turned to meet his.

Originally, the plan had been to use Sophia as a means of drawing out Ain Del.

This time of year, the Royce family was typically plagued by the greed of the palace eunuchs, caught in political quagmires. By clearing those obstacles anyway, he had intended to redirect a future connection, one originally meant for another prince, into his own hands.

In a past life, the prince who aligned with the Royce family had prolonged the succession war through sheer financial power. The plan had been to preserve the life of a man who was originally destined to die, and eliminate the instability posed by Sophia, but now… the plan had changed.

The relationship between the two was different than expected.

Sophia, for one, was not yet steeped in the calculated malice he remembered.

[A new attribute—Fortune in Wealth—stirs within you.]
[The attribute—Fortune in Wealth—surges violently.]

This fortune responded not only to Ain Del, but even more strongly… to Sophia. A new thought burst into his mind.

What if he could seize both the present and the future of House Royce?

This unexpected relationship between father and daughter could potentially be leveraged to his advantage.

“I’ll become your patron. In return, serve as the head lady-in-waiting.”

“!”

“Your Highness…?”

The announcement was brief, but everyone in the room froze in shock.

A sudden patronage. A proposal to appoint Sophia as the chief lady-in-waiting, and that wasn’t all.

“If you can prove your ability, I’ll grant you a position once your coming-of-age ceremony is complete. A good one.”

A promise for a future role within his inner circle, It was an alluring offer.Had it come from anyone other than the prince widely rumored to be insane, it would’ve caused a political frenzy.

Sophia’s trembling eyelids couldn’t hide her shock, and behind her, Ain Del’s expression briefly twisted into one of greed. For just a second, the eyes of the daughter looking at her father brimmed with revulsion.

How this unexpected fissure was handled could mean the difference between catastrophe and striking gold twice.

[Your decision has twisted the fate of those involved.]

A deep smile curled onto his lips.

He had no doubt.

[Sub-fate: Fortunate Encounter has activated. You have gained an opportunity to seize two birds with one stone.]

He was confident that he could warp their fates, toward a direction that would benefit him.

“If you would allow a few days’ time, I will discuss it with the child and provide an answer.”

“Have preparations ready so she can accompany me to the palace before I return.”

“If Your Highness could grant us a little more time…”

“I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Have everything ready by then.”

“We still need to hear what the girl thinks…”

“We’re going. You. Come with me.”

“…I will have her ready by tomorrow morning.”

Ain Del tried to delay, still calculating his angles, so the prince made to take Sophia with him immediately. Only then did Ain Del hurriedly send his daughter inside.

Who knew how long that mask of his would last, but until then, Sophia would remain by the prince’s side.

“Well, I’ll be off, then.”

“May you return safely. We will be waiting.”

“I’ll return without fail, so just be ready.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Leaving the grand mansion behind, the prince pulled a thick robe over his head. Behind him, another figure did the same, hood drawn low.

“Your servant Andre is prepared.”

It was not Alfred, but Andre. Alfred would remain at the estate, maintaining the illusion that the prince was still there, a convenient alibi for prying eyes.

During that time, the real prince would move, seeking to claim the next destiny waiting ahead, he needed someone reliable to guide him to the target location.

“Let’s go. You know where it is, right?”

“Yes, Your servant Andre will give his utmost.”

Andre was the right man for the task. As they began to move, a sudden thought surfaced.

“…By the way, why do you always get into the trunk? This time and last time.”

“You prohibited me from riding beside you.”

“True.”

“And I couldn’t very well sprint alongside the Steel Fortress all the way here.”

“Also true.”

“So… the only seat left is in the trunk.”

“Also fair.”

“….”

“What’re you staring at? Just keep riding in the trunk from now on.”

Andre’s shoulders sagged with an odd sense of melancholy. The prince simply walked past him, bold and unbothered.

What did you expect from a tyrant, anyway?

[Sub-fate: Madness intensifies.]
[Sub-fate: Faint Compassion devoured. Fate Alteration Points increased.]
[Fate Alteration Points have exceeded the threshold. You now possess over 5,000 points.]
[Fate Alteration Points can be converted to Mystery Points.]
[5,000 Fate Alteration Points = 1 Mystery Enhancement Point.]

Should he let Andre ride in the front seat… just once?